Employee Spotlight Tag

At DAA, we are overflowing with exceptional employees and each month we like to choose one to highlight. You can also check back next month to see who is featured in the employee spotlight! This week we are featuring EJ Wilson, Business Development Manager.
Hometown: Emporia, VA
Alma Mater: The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Birthday: October 28
Tell us a little about your background. Our viewers may not be aware that you are the EJ Wilson. So, talk to us a little bit about your experience in the NFL.
I was a 4th round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2010 NFL Draft after lettering in 4 seasons playing for the Tar Heels. I also spent years playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before an Achilles injury derailed my career. Although it meant the premature ending of my playing career, my injury taught me a lot about myself and helped me to develop...

At DAA, we are overflowing with exceptional employees and each month we like to choose one to highlight. You can also check back next month to see who is featured in the employee spotlight! This week we are featuring Kathleen Stark, CAD drafter for the Environmental team.
Kathleen Stark
Title: CAD Drafter
Division: Environmental
Hometown: Clayton, NC
Alma Mater: University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse
Birthday: August 6
What three words would you use to describe working at DAA?
Fun, Flexible, and Family
Favorite thing about working at DAA?
Great People
In your experience here, is there a project that really stands out?
As a CAD Drafter for the environmental department, I work on a lot of projects. Each project is in need of some kind of map for the reports. They are all fun and some more challenging than others. I love what I do.
Favorite quote or words of wisdom?
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t...

At DAA, we are proud to be a values-oriented firm. We are fortunate to employ exceptional professionals in the industry who make it their mission to live out our firm’s values through their work, in their personal lives, and in the community. This month, we are pleased to highlight Joann Mayo, who is our Accounting Specialist in the Finance Administration Division team. Let’s catch up with her here:
Joann Mayo.
Title: Accounting Specialist
Division: Finance Administration
Hometown: Virginia Beach
Alma Mater: Regent University
Birthday: July 20
What three words would you use to describe working at DAA?
Innovative, flexible, and progressive
Favorite thing about working at DAA?
Learning opportunities and experiences
In your experience here, is there a project that really stands out?
In the Finance Administration department, we are presented with opportunities to build long lasting relationships with our internal stakeholders, external clients, and business partners; what may seem like a challenge, is often the opportunity to deepen our relationships through...

At DAA we are overflowing with exceptional employees and each month we like to choose one to highlight. Check back at the beginning of every month to see who's in the spotlight! This week we are featuring Rob Link, Laboratory Manager in the Geotechnical Engineering Division.
Rob Link
Title: Laboratory Manager
Division: Geotechnical Engineering
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Birthday: June 9
What three words would you use to describe working at DAA?
Comradery, integrity, and dedication
Favorite thing about working at DAA?
The best part of working at DAA for me is the privilege of working with our talented staff. Even as we grow, and continue to grow as a company, we have not lost our family feel and approach.
In your experience here, is there a project that really stands out?
Goodness, as Lab Manager I have worked on hundreds of different projects, all of them have their own unique challenges. However, for me the most challenging aspect of my job...

At DAA we are overflowing with exceptional employees and each month we like to choose one to highlight. Check back at the beginning of every month to see who's in the spotlight! This month we are featuring John Robertson, the Division Manager for the Advanced Locating Mapping Division.
John Robertson, PE
Title: Division Manager
Division: Advanced Locating & Mapping
Hometown: Henrico, VA
Alma Mater: Virginia Tech
Birthday: May 14
What three words would you use to describe working at DAA?
Professional, challenging, and rewarding.
Favorite thing about working at DAA?
The people and the culture.
In your experience here, is there a project that really stands out?
Project RVA is the largest project to date since I've been here. It's fast paced, interesting, and always changing.
Favorite sports team?
Virgina Tech and NASCAR
What TV show, movie, or book are you obsessed with right now?
Seal Team
Have you been on a recent vacation or trip that you loved?
New York City at Thanksgiving. It was fun,...

At DAA we are overflowing with exceptional employees and each month we like to choose one to highlight. Check back at the beginning of every month to see who's in the spotlight! This month, we are pleased to highlight Deborah Flippo who is the Business Development Manager. Let’s catch up with her below:
Deborah Flippo
Title: Economic Development Program Manager
Division: Marketing & Business Development
Hometown: Mechanicsville, VA
Alma Mater: VCU
Birthday: April 7
Favorite thing about working at DAA?
In my job, every day is different. I love the autonomy I can enjoy and the work-life balance that has always been important to the firm.
In your experience here, is there a project that really stands out?
I spent 7 years pursuing the Wildwood Commerce Park in Carroll County – and then they issued the RFP with a due date while I was out of the country on vacation! But the DAA team made it happen, and I returned...

At DAA we are overflowing with exceptional employees and each month we like to choose one to highlight. Check back at the beginning of every month to see who's in the spotlight!
Jocylen Graves
Title: Plat Creation Manager
Division: Site Development and Infrastructure
Hometown: Bumpass, VA
Birthday: December 2
What 3 words would you use to describe working at DAA?
Fun, Challenging, Family-Oriented
Favorite thing about working at DAA?
Flexible work schedule
In your experience here, is there a project that really stands out?
Working on the Public Utility Company project has been one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences I’ve had. It’s an accomplishment being involved in the many steps of the strategic underground process and the reliable source of electricity distributed to Virginia customers.
Favorite quote or words of wisdom?
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful…” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
What TV show, movie, or book are you obsessed with right now?
Law & Order: SVU and the Bible
Have you been on a recent vacation...

At DAA we are overflowing with exceptional employees and each month we like to choose one to highlight. Check back at the beginning of every month to see who's in the spotlight!
Jason Judy, PE
Title: Design Engineer
Division: Structural Engineering
Alma Mater: Old Dominion University
Hometown: Varina, VA
Birthday: October 1
What 3 words would you use to describe working at DAA?
Challenging, Fun and, Rewarding
Favorite thing about working at DAA?
The team/family environment we have in Structural, from Puppy Picture Monday to our Structural cook-outs out in the back parking lot.
In your experience here, is there a project that really stands out?
The Stone Brewery. I worked on this project for the better part of two years from preliminary design documents through the first batches of beer brewed. The cast-in-place concrete tank farm for the brewery presented a unique design challenge and has been the only time where we’ve needed to use large No. 14 bars for the steel reinforcing....

At DAA we are overflowing with exceptional employees and each month we like to choose one to highlight. Check back at the beginning of every month to see who's in the spotlight!
Leonard “Rip” Ford
Title: Environmental Project Manager
Division: Environmental Services
Alma Mater: Virginia Tech and UCLA
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Birthday: September 26
Favorite thing about working at DAA?
Flexible office schedule.
In your experience here, is there a project that really stands out?
Serving as environmental team leader for some 20 years was both the most challenging and the most rewarding “project” that I have experienced in my career.
What TV show, movie, or book are you obsessed with right now?
Midsomer Murders (ACORN TV rules)
Have you been on a recent vacation or trip that you loved?
A weekend visit with my first born daughter, last month, in Chicago.
[caption id="attachment_6594" align="aligncenter" width="770"] Rip's trip to Chicago[/caption]
What was the first concert you ever attended?
The Byrds (Richmond Arena)
Favorite sports team?
I have no interest in...

At DAA we are overflowing with exceptional employees and each month we like to choose one to highlight. Check back at the beginning of every month to see who's in the spotlight!
Lori Kuszmaul
Title: Receptionist
Division: Finance and Administration
Alma Mater: University of Toledo
Hometown: McComb and Perrysburg, Ohio
Birthday: August 12
What 3 words would you use to describe working at DAA?
Fun, exciting, family-oriented
Favorite thing about working at DAA?
Every day is a new day! I never know what my challenges and accomplishments will be. I enjoy working with people and helping where I can.
Favorite quote or words of wisdom?
BREATHE!
What TV show, movie, or book are you obsessed with right now?
I am always obsessed with romance novels. But my latest read, which was not a romance novel was "Born a Crime", by Trevor Noah. Wonderful book about the apartheid.
Have you been on a recent vacation or trip that you loved?
I don’t need no stinkin’ vacation, I live...